United States Air Force: Unmanned Aircraft System

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United States Air Force
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan
2009-2047

Headquarters, United States Air Force
Washington DC
18 May, 2009

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List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 7
References .................................................................................................................................................... 9
1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 14
1.1 Purpose.............................................................................................................................................
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7.3 Goal #2 Ensure Product Supportability for Future Systems ............................................................. 77
7.4 Goal #3: Identify & Invest in Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Sustainability (RAMS)
Technologies with Particular UAS Applicability ................................................................................. 78
ANNEX 8- TRAINING ................................................................................................................................. 81

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List of Figures
Figure 1: Joint UAS Group Classification
Figure 2: Potential Mission Sets for UAS
Figure 3: SUAS Family of Systems
Figure 4: Medium System Evolution
Figure 5: Large System Evolution
Figure 6: Special System Evolution
Figure 7: DOTMLPF-P Synchronization- Near Term
Figure 8: Mid Term – Accelerate Innovation
Figure 9: Long Term – Fully Integrate UAS
Figure 10: Long Term – Full Autonomy
Figure 11: DoD Corporate Processes
Figure 12: USAF POM Development Timeline
Figure 13: FY10 Notional Timeline
Figure 14: OSD UAS Task Force Structure
Figure 15: LCM Implications
Terrestrial based resources and connectivity allow specialized skills to be called upon on demand when and where needed.

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Air Force UAS Flight Plan

UAS increase the percentage of assets available for operations due to their distributive nature. It may be possible for initial qualification training of UAS crews to be accomplished via simulators almost entirely without launching an aircraft, enabling a higher percentage of aircraft to be combat coded and available for other operations. The resulting deployment and employment efficiencies lend greater capability at the same or reduced expense when compared to manned equivalents.
UAS will adopt a UAS Control Segment (UCS) architecture that is open, standard, scalable and will allow for rapid addition of modular functionality. This architecture will enable the warfighter to add capability, offer competitive options, encourage innovation and increase cost control. It can also dramatically improve interoperability and data access, and increase training efficiencies. Flexibility will allow